Flat-pack table having tool-free assembly

Abstract

A furniture piece includes a first furniture subassembly, a first fitting on the first furniture subassembly, a second furniture subassembly, and a second fitting on the second furniture subassembly. The second fitting is selectively attachable to the first fitting to secure the first furniture subassembly to the second furniture subassembly. One of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding interference slot with an open end and a blind end, and the other of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding tongue slidably introducible in the open end of the interference slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A furniture piece, comprising:
 a first furniture subassembly;   a first fitting on the first furniture subassembly;   a second furniture subassembly; and   a second fitting on the second furniture subassembly, the second fitting being selectively attachable to the first fitting to secure the first furniture subassembly to the second furniture subassembly,   wherein one of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding interference slot with an open end and a blind end, and the other of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding tongue slidably introducible in the open end of the interference slot.   
     
     
         2 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding interference slot is one of T-shaped, L-shaped, and dovetail-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the first fitting and the second fitting snap into place. 
     
     
         4 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the first fitting comprises one of a protrusion and a detent and the second fitting comprises the other of the protrusion and the detent. 
     
     
         5 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the second fitting is attached to the second furniture subassembly. 
     
     
         6 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the first furniture subassembly comprises a first frame having multiple, spaced first fittings thereon, and wherein the second furniture subassembly comprises a second frame having multiple, spaced second fittings spaced thereon to simultaneously secure to the multiple, spaced first fittings. 
     
     
         7 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding interference slot includes:
 a lengthwise opening extending from the open end toward the blind end,   a lengthwise recess accessible through the lengthwise opening, the lengthwise opening having a first width and the lengthwise recess having a second width greater than the first width.   
     
     
         8 . The furniture piece of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding interference slot includes:
 a lengthwise opening extending from the open end toward the blind end,   a lengthwise recess accessible through the lengthwise opening, the lengthwise opening having a first width and the lengthwise recess having a second width equal to the first width.   
     
     
         9 . A table furniture piece, comprising:
 a tabletop subassembly;   a first fitting on the tabletop subassembly;   a support;   a second fitting on the support, the second fitting being selectively attachable to the first fitting to secure the support to the tabletop subassembly,   wherein one of the first fitting and the second fitting is a first sliding interference slot with a first open end and a first blind end, and the other of the first fitting and the second fitting is a first sliding tongue slidably introducible in the open end of the first interference slot;   a third fitting on the support;   a leg subassembly; and   a fourth fitting on the leg subassembly, the fourth fitting being selectively attachable to the third fitting to secure the leg subassembly to the support,   wherein one of the third fitting and the fourth fitting is a second sliding interference slot with a second open end and a second blind end, and the other of the third fitting and the fourth fitting is a second sliding tongue slidably introducible in the open end of the second interference slot.   
     
     
         10 . The table furniture piece of  claim 9 , wherein the first sliding interference slot or the second sliding interference slot is one of T-shaped, L-shaped, and dovetail-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The table furniture piece of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first fitting and the second fitting snap into place, or   the third fitting and the fourth fitting snap into place.   
     
     
         12 . The table furniture piece of  claim 9 , wherein the first fitting comprises one of a protrusion and a detent and the second fitting comprises the other of the protrusion and the detent. 
     
     
         13 . The table furniture piece of  claim 9 , wherein the third fitting comprises one of a protrusion and a detent and the fourth fitting comprises the other of the protrusion and the detent. 
     
     
         14 . The table furniture piece of  claim 9 , wherein the leg subassembly comprises a frame having multiple, spaced first fittings thereon, and wherein the support has multiple, spaced second fittings spaced thereon to simultaneously secure to the multiple, spaced first fittings. 
     
     
         15 . The table furniture piece of  claim 9 , wherein the first sliding interference slot or the second sliding interference slot includes:
 a lengthwise opening extending from the open end toward the blind end,   a lengthwise recess accessible through the lengthwise opening, the lengthwise opening having a first width and the lengthwise recess having a second width greater than the first width.   
     
     
         16 . The table furniture piece of  claim 9 , wherein the first sliding interference slot or the second sliding interference slot includes:
 a lengthwise opening extending from the open end toward the blind end,   a lengthwise recess accessible through the lengthwise opening, the lengthwise opening having a first width and the lengthwise recess having a second width equal to the first width.   
     
     
         17 . A table consisting of:
 a first leg subassembly;   a first support attachable to the first leg subassembly;   a first tabletop subassembly attachable to the first support;   a second leg subassembly;   a second support attachable to the second leg subassembly; and   a second tabletop subassembly attachable to the first support and the second support;   the first leg subassembly, the first support, the first tabletop subassembly, the second leg subassembly, the second support, and the second tabletop subassembly fitting within a package having a total volume within a range of about 0.6-105 cubic feet, and being assemblable without the use of a tool.   
     
     
         18 . The table of  claim 17 , wherein the first leg subassembly is attachable to the first support, the second leg subassembly is attachable to the second support, the first tabletop subassembly and the second tabletop subassembly are each attachable to both the first support and the second support, and the first leg subassembly and second leg subassembly are each configured to abut but not attach to the first tabletop subassembly and second tabletop subassembly. 
     
     
         19 . The table of  claim 17 , wherein the first leg subassembly is attachable to the first support by snapping into place, and the second leg subassembly is attachable to the second support by snapping into place. 
     
     
         20 . The table of  claim 17 , further comprising a central aperture covered by at least one of a removable center piece, a removable gel fuel can holder, or a removable Bio-E canister holder. 
     
     
         21 . A furniture piece assembleable without the use of tools, comprising:
 a first furniture subassembly having a first fitting thereon; and   a second furniture subassembly having a second fitting thereon,   the second fitting being shaped and sized to be selectively attachable to the first fitting to secure the first furniture subassembly to the second furniture subassembly.   
     
     
         22 . The furniture piece of  claim 20 , wherein one of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding interference slot with an open end and a blind end, and the other of the first fitting and the second fitting is a sliding tongue slidably introducible in the open end of the interference slot.